In an extraordinary public statement, all five Republican members of the House ethics committee are calling on Democrats to schedule ethics trials for Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) before the November elections.

Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), ranking member of the committee, was joined by his four Republican colleagues on the bipartisan committee in slamming ethics committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) for not scheduling the trials even as the House prepares to adjourn until after Nov. 2.

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POLITICO 44

“It is in the best interests of the transparency and fairness to the American people, Representatives Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters, and other Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, that the House Ethics Committee stop stalling the resolution of the Rangel and Waters matters and complete those public trials prior to the November elections,” the Republican members of the normally secretive panel declared in their statement.

Bonner and the Republican blamed Lofgren for the delays in moving forward with the proceedings, saying she alone has the authority under ethics committee rules to set a trial date for the Rangel and Waters cases.

“The Chairwoman has repeatedly refused to set either the Rangel or Waters trial before the November election,” the Republicans wrote in a statement released Tuesday. “While we regret that the Committee has not worked together in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the transparent and fair resolution of these matters to date, we look forward to working with the Chairwoman in a bipartisan manner to accomplish this – and other important unfinished Committee business – in the coming weeks.”

Bonner’s public criticism of Lofgren is a surprising move, considering the usually secretive nature of congressional ethics committees, and it opens up a divisive partisan clash over the Rangel and Waters cases. Lofgren and Bonner have been at pains since the start of the 111th Congress to play up their bipartisan cooperation on ethics cases, issuing frequent public statements highlighting their cooperation.

The clash over the schedule for the Rangel-Waters trials is the worst public fight for the ethics committee since early 2005, when Republicans moved to replace former Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.), the committee chairman, and top panel staffers following an investigation into then Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

Democrats were privately furious over the decision by Bonner and the other four Republicans to go public with their complaints about Lofgren.

“The whole ruse of it being a bipartisan, non-politicized committee has blown up in their face,” said one Democratic aide who follows the ethics panel closely. “The fact that they can put out this statement shows how damned partisan it is.”

The Democratic aide also said that Lofgren “has lost control of the process.”

This is getting really crazy. If they have the trials after the election what if either one of them have to go, what happens then? I sure in the hell hope that they would be looking at appointing people to a position right after an election. That would be about crazy as can be. Washington is so out of step with the average American that they all need to get out of politics and just go away.

Typical Democrat actions. I thought Maxine Waters was in a hurry to prove she is innocent and Rangel too, we need to get this done before the elections, people in their districts need to know if they are truly guilty or innocent before they vote. What a disgrace

The Members of teh House are really clueless about the Nance! Imagine that Dolt doing somerthing in Sunshine for once??? She's severely occupied deciding who to screw over next? Obama or Michelle over Burgers and bacon or Broccoli and tufu?????

Agree.. but no Country Club Jail... They need to enjoy one where they can be among the REAL criminals and may be become " working Ladies" in the Cells! and while we are at it Schuckie Schumer might also be recruited for that trip?

Published August 13, 2010 | FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/politic... Embattled Rep. Maxine Waters on Friday blamed the Bush administration for her ethics problems -- saying she had to intervene with the Treasury Department on behalf of minority-owned banks seeking federal bailout funds -- including one tied to her husband -- because the Treasury Department wouldn't schedule its own appointments.